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Him (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 21, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Him, directed by Justin Tipping (Black Monday) and starring Marlon Wayans (White Chicks) and Tyriq Withers (I Know What You Did Last Summer, 2025), follows a Legendary football player as he attempts to recruit and train an upcoming football star.

Unbeknownst to him, Cameron Cade (Withers) is exposed to a series of tasks that lead to a dark and sinister cult within the world of football.

Him is a psychological horror that bends the realm of reality and fantasy. The imagery presented was dark and edgy; however, it was also distorted and confusing in the middle of the film.

The story itself had great potential but was inconsistent and fell flat in some areas.

The main cast had a good flow and chemistry throughout the film. The special effects were nothing out of the ordinary. Unfortunately, the fact that Jordan Peele has his name attached to this project is somewhat disappointing, considering his past filmography.

I have mixed feelings about this film. I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t love it.

This is a decent movie for streaming if you like football.

I gave this film 3 stars for its intriguing nature.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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The Conjuring: Last Rites (review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

The Conjuring: Last Rites, directed by Michael Chaves (The Nun II) and starring Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do IT), Patrick Wilson (Annabelle Comes Home, and Mia Tomlinson (The Mediator) follows Ed and Lorraine Warren as they face the most impactful paranormal case that would eventually end their careers.

This film starts with a young expecting couple as they encounter a powerful demon on a case that would mark the family for the rest of their lives. In their fight to help and protect a family from the dark entities of a home, things go terribly wrong, and Lorraine goes into labor early.

After the traumatic birth of their daughter, Judy, the Warrens work hard to put their lives back together and move on. Judy has a psychic connection and works to manage her abilities with guidance from Lorraine.  It is not until Judy reaches her full psychic capacity that the entity that marks her returns in connection with a family she is drawn to help.

The story was well-written and presented a new chapter in the Warren world of the paranormal. The franchise has evolved in ways that have expanded the universe while allowing it to grow within the story without any fractures.

The visual and special effects opened the door to imagery, defining the meaning of creativity and imagination. The score was great and took me directly to my 80’ Playlist.

There were plenty of jump scares, creepy thrills, and intense moments invoking the feeling of uncertainty, mystery, and heart-pounding fear.

The new additions to the cast were a continuation of the legacy that the Conjuring Universe already carries. At the same time, the story, visuals, and all the other components are the perfect recipe for a fantastic start to the fall horror season.

The Conjuring: Last Rites is a 5-star Paranormal Adventure that horror fans will love as the final chapter in the Conjuring film Universe.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Jurassic World: Rebirth (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Jurassic World: Rebirth directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla 2014) starring Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow 2021) and Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), takes place 5 years after the events of Dominion. A team of scientists and military explorers set out to return to the deserted Theme Park to extract DNA from 3 of the most ferocious dinosaurs, to use for groundbreaking medical research.

It was great to see Scarlett Johansson in this role, however compared to the action portrayed in some of her past films, I was a bit underwhelmed by her part and the movie as a whole. There were exciting scenes but I think that this franchise has overdone it with too many sequels. There is only so far you can take the concept of genetically engineered dinosaurs and it think this is the end of the line for the franchise or at least it should be.

The supporting cast wasn’t anything out of the ordinary and the special effects were average considering a film at this caliber. Visually the movie impressed with world building and mood. It was an added bonus to see it in 3D, but it is worth watching via streaming service. Despite having some issues with writing and the repetitive storyline, it was still a fun movie that families will enjoy.

Overall I gave this film 3 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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28 Years Later “Review”

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 24, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

28 Years Later, directed by Danny Boyle and starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jodie Comer, tells the story of how a group of people have survived on a Scottish island since the initial Rage Outbreak over twenty years ago.

The film opens with father and son, Jamie and Jimmy, trekking through treacherous and unstable terrain as Jamie teaches Jimmy how to defend himself against the Infected. Jimmy is on a mission to learn how the world works while attempting to stay safe and be fully aware of his surroundings. Eventually, the actions of the father and son, in conjunction with their family dynamic, set the stage for Jimmy to venture beyond the borders of their small island in search of answers to aid his ailing mother.

This movie felt completely disconnected and seemed more like a stand-alone film, rather than part of a franchise. There were so many elements that went wrong. The beginning was off to a decent start. By the time we explore the middle of the film, we are lost in the concept of ridiculous storytelling. Jimmy, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, was underdeveloped as a character, while Dr. Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, was just bizarre.

The zombies were beyond terrible. This film attempted to convey a sense of evolutionary nature within them. The first type of zombie we see is the basic rage zombie; however, these zombies were completely nude, which didn’t make sense. I could see tattered clothes, but just running with nothing on was just over the top. Then we have another type, which is just an overweight crawling zombie. Their origin was explained, but it was so pointless that I can no longer recall how they came to be.

Unfortunately, this movie was a waste of time and a big disappointment.

I gave this film 1 star.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.  

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Mission Impossible- The Final Reckoning (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning, directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Pom Klementieff, and Angela Bassett, is the eighth installment of the action-adventure franchise.

This movie follows super spy Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his exceptional team as he accepts the mission to fight against an artificial intelligence system that aims to destroy humanity.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning is a mind-bending theatrical masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of human experience while blending elements of superhero characteristics within the main protagonist. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Ethan Hunt is a manifestation of magnificence as he ventures off into a world of unknown dangers, searching for a way to defeat a computer-generated villain called The Entity.

The special effects and storyline were well done and delivered the elements of movie magic within every scene. The action sequences were phenomenal, and the supporting cast was filled with familiar faces that created a beautiful cinematic melody. The new additions to the cast danced with grace and fluidity throughout the film, all creating a cohesiveness that strengthened the plot and mood.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: THE FINAL RECKONING delivered an impactful conclusion to the franchise while kicking off the summer blockbuster season.

This movie was a lot of fun. It has heartwarming, hold-your-breath moments, heart-stopping thrills, and shocking revelations.

I give this movie five stars!

Check out the trailer below:

L.L

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Final Destination: Bloodlines (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Final Destination: Bloodlines, directed by Zack Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Tony Todd, and Teo Briones, follows college student Stefani as a recurring nightmare haunts her. Desperate to seek answers, Stefani soon returns home and begins to uncover the secrets of her family history.

Final Destination: Bloodlines is a scary good time, with unexpected twists at every corner.

The story adds a fresh spin on the modern horror classic while exploring the deep connection between the historical elements of established characters.

The death scenes were exciting and uniquely created. They provide a pace of progression that exposes multiple layers of human experience. Each choice and decision relates to one another while adding complexity to the story.

The score was well done, while the special effects presented a hauntingly realistic nature that drew the audience in deeper.

Elements of comedy created balance, while the cast of relative unknowns delivered a sense of cohesiveness that only the FD franchise can generate.

As a horror icon and industry staple, it was amazing to see our beloved Tony Todd one final time as JB. It was great to see how the franchise paid homage to a decades-long story and character.

Overall, FDB is a 5-star horror film that fans of the franchise will get a kick out of.

Check out the trailer below.

L.L.

Check out the trailer below:

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The Accountant 2 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

The Accountant 2, directed by Gavin O’Connor and starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, is the sequel that follows a genius Assassin as he and his brother team up to solve the murder of a Treasury Secretary.

The film opens with a sketchy situation unfolding as gunfire erupts at a local nightclub.

Affleck (Christian Wolf) and Bernthal (Braxton) make a fantastic team kicking ass as they fight their way to solve the murder and to free children that have been wrongfully held captive.

An Action-packed, witty thrill ride is all that makes this film a fabulous prequel to the Summer Blockbuster season. The chemistry between Affleck and Bernthal is magical.. The fight sequences were impressive, and the score helped to create a thrilling balance within the film.

This is a great, action-packed film.

I gave this movie 5 stars. I am hoping for another sequel.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Sinners Movie Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler (Black Panther) and starring Michael B. Jordan, (Creed) Wunmi Mosaku,(Deadpool & Wolverine) and Hailee Steinfeld, (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse), tells the story of twin brothers Smoke and Stack (played by Jordan) who open a local Juke Joint only to find that their dreams of being Black Business owners in the Jim Crow South are not what they hoped for.

From Dusk Till Dawn meets John Carpenter’s Vampires; this movie lifts the veil between supernatural and reality. This horror story reveals and exposes the history and traditions of African Americans in a time when fighting for the liberties of black people created a never-ending energy of a deep-rooted strength uniquely displayed within the characters.

Sinners is a film that horror fans will love. The cast was engaging and energetic. The musical elements added depth and culture to the story, while the cast was connected and brought a freshness to the screen.

The creature design was done well, and the special effects and sound added to the historical horror’s nature.

This movie is a must-see.

I gave the film Sinners a 5 out of 5!

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Captain America: Brave New World (Review)

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

Captain America: Brave New World, directed by Julius Onah and starring Anthony Mackie (Wilson), Harrison Ford (President Ross), and Danny Ramirez (Torres), is the first major standalone film with Sam Wilson at the helm as Captain America. With Steve Roger’s passing on the Shield, Sam finds himself entangled in a world close to the President as the American government attempts to repair the fractured fragments of a society recovering from the global catastrophe caused by Thanos. Despite the efforts of the Avengers, a new terrorist rises to wreak havoc as Captain America is marked as the primary target.

President Ross proposes reestablishing the Avengers with the hope of making America and the world safer. Sam is unsure how to process this request. However, he teams up with sick kick Torres (played by Ramirez) to neutralize multiple threats, including President Ross.

This Captain America film was a great introduction to Marvel‘s Phase 5. The storytelling was on point and provided a nice continuation of the events in The Hulk and its sequel, The Incredible Hulk. Harrison Ford as President Ross was legendary, and the supporting cast added to the action-packed adventure. The special effects were amazing, and the action scenes, along with the fight sequences, were spectacular. The blending of Captain America and Falcon was done with creative grace, while Anthony Mackie’s portrayal of the hero was thrilling to see on screen. The sheer athleticism that Mackie demonstrates is worthy of this level within the Marvel Universe, and it is clearly evident that the franchise is in no way ready to fizzle out. The fire is still blazing, and Marvel is still hailed as number 1, in my opinion.

This movie is a must-see. Marvel fans will have a blast!

I gave this movie 5 stars.

Check out the trailer below:

L.L.

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Wolfman 2025 Review

Posted in Fantasy literature, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

by LaTaeya Lane

The Wolfman, directed by Leigh Whannell and starring Julia Gardner (Ozark), Christopher Abbott (Kraven The Hunter), and Matilda Firth (Disenchanted), follows a family as they travel to the remote mountains in Oregon to Blake’s childhood home to pack up his father’s things after being declared deceased.

The moment Blake reaches his family estate, things go bad as the family suffers from a terrible accident, leaving Blake with an injury that he is unable to recover from.

The situation continues to spiral out of control as  Charlotte (Garner) and their daughter Ginger (Firth) try to help Blake while attempting to make sense of their current circumstances.

Overall, this was a pretty good movie. The storyline was interesting and presented a nice backstory into the past of our antagonist. The balance between Blake’s humanity and his relationship with the monster within created an internal struggle that was projected beautifully on screen.

Charlotte’s character is strong yet flawed. The fast-paced horror film did not disappoint, as its structure had many classic elements interwoven within. However, the creature design for the Wolfman did miss the mark for me. Parts of the character’s transformation reminded me of Seth Brundle from 1986’s The Fly. The concept of Blake living between human and wolf was conveyed, but I was hoping to see more elements of the wolf transpire.

The special effects were solid, and the film was thrilling in many ways.

I gave this movie 3 stars

L.L.

Check out the trailer below:

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